Ohio State nav bar

Color

Color plays an active role in people’s lives. It attracts attention. It triggers emotions.

Color can influence decisions and behaviors.

Consistent use of color supports visual cohesion across our communications and leverages emotional resonance with our brand. When combined with photos of our people, places and work, color enhances the depth and increases the impact of our storytelling.

Primary Palette

PMS 200
CMYK: 3 100 63 12
RGB: 187 0 0
HEX: #bb0000

PMS 424
CMYK: 56 47 47 15
RGB: 102 102 102
HEX: #666666

White
CMYK: 0 0 0 0
RGB: 255 255 255
HEX: #ffffff

Black
CMYK: 0 0 0 100
RGB: 0 0 0
HEX: #000000

Scarlet and gray in combination are as well known as our name. They are our signature colors by which our audiences identify us as Ohio State.

Incorporate our signature colors into your materials to tap into that powerful recognition and connect with our brand. To ensure consistency and protect our signature colors, be sure to use the proper specifications above, and consider that a generous use of white allows our colors, and any others, to stand out.

About scarlet

Scarlet is powerful. It is bold. It is an integral part of our brand, which is why its presence is required on all Ohio State communications. A prominence of scarlet, however, is not always advisable.

Scarlet is a red, and red is one of the most visible colors. Why? Anthropologists believe we’re hardwired to notice red as a survival instinct. Aside from black and white, red is the only color distinction found in every human language.

Physically, red focuses behind the retina, which forces the lens of your eye to become more convex to pull it forward; therefore, we perceive red areas as advancing. How scarlet is positioned in relation to other hues, however, makes a world of difference. On a black background, for example, scarlet glows and expands, while on a white background it appears more contained and crisp. Surrounded by orange and purple, scarlet is relatively lifeless.

Use scarlet duotones with colors other than shades of scarlet or black

Secondary Palette

PMS 2597
CMYK: 80 99 0 0
RGB: 68 35 105
HEX: #442369

PMS 644
CMYK: 42 10 2 6
RGB: 146 176 215
HEX: #92b0d7

PMS 380
CMYK: 18 0 82 0
RGB: 212 223 72
HEX: #d4df48

PMS 5473
CMYK: 86 20 32 51
RGB: 38 104 109
HEX: #26686d

PMS 110
CMYK: 2 22 100 8
RGB: 220 170 56
HEX: #dcaa38

PMS 7532
CMYK: 23 37 45 65
RGB: 69 56 49
HEX: #453831

PMS 391
CMYK: 23 5 100 33
RGB: 144 151 56
HEX: #909738

PMS 159
CMYK: 1 72 100 7
RGB: 214 88 40
HEX: #d65828

PMS 1205
CMYK: 0 3 43 0
RGB: 255 234 174
HEX: #ffeaae

PMS 563
CMYK: 50 0 29 2
RGB: 110 187 171
HEX: #6ebbab

PMS 7534
CMYK: 5 5 15 8
RGB: 221 222 198
HEX: #dddec6

PMS 2425
CMYK: 40 100 10 26
RGB: 133 30 94
HEX: #851e5e

Since 1878, when a group of students chose our iconic signature colors, the Buckeye Nation has recognized scarlet and gray as Ohio State. We are a diverse institution, however, and we speak to vast and varied audience every day. Keeping those diverse communications in mind, a secondary palette has been carefully selected for versatility and compatibility with our iconic hues. This range of extended color options was chosen to complement the core university colors and provides units with the flexibility to distinguish themselves while building alignment and consistency.

These colors reflect the university’s physical environment and work in concert with the primary colors. Whether selecting a single secondary color or many, scarlet and gray should always appear in a prominent way on any communication materials.

When choosing complementing blue tones, keep in mind our sensitivity at Ohio State to that particular color. Blue should never be visually dominant.

Extended palette

Use of tints and shades of the secondary palette colors provides countless options and variations. The colors provide both dominant and neutral choices to balance and complement scarlet and gray. Use this handy tool for finding the correct mixes for each of the tints and shades.

Picking the right colors for your message can be fun—but deciding on secondary colors can be challenging depending on the number of colors and intensities you choose. The three color groupings shown here can help you get started. The brand team is also available for counsel and assistance; email identity@osu.edu.